Dock-plate



TED STA'ME OFFICE.

ITHIEL S. RICHARDSON, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

DOOR-PLATE.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 56, dated October 15, 1836.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ITHIEL S. RICHARDSON, of Boston, in the county of Suffolk and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, have invented a new and Improved Mode of Constructing Door-Plates; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description.

The nature of my invention consists in the use of a plate similar tothe common plates, of metal, or other substance. If metal be used I cut a hole through the plate on a circle, or in a line perpendicular, or otherwise, between this plate, and the door is introduced a circle, or slide, one side, or one end whereof is shown through hole in the.

which moves the circle passes through the door, and has a hand or index to show when the front circle or slide is right, or the circle or slide may be moved by a key through the front plate when no hand or index would be needed, a spring or catch may be used to hold the circle or slide in its intended position. The front plate as well as the circle, and slide may be made to exhibit the name, &c., in type or it may be engraved or the impression may be stamped, each circle or slide may be so constructed, that it will exhibit nothing more than is seen on a common doorplate. If the front plate is transparent darken all parts of the plate except where you wish the circles or slides to be shown through. If several circles placed side by side, be used, there must be as many transparent places, as circles or slides, but if they are placed one before the other only one transparent place is needed, if a circle be used the edge may be made thick, and revolve against the holes. The plates may be placed on doors or elsewhere as required.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent is- The mode of combining, and arranging an apparatus to serve as a servant; to wit, an intelligible doorplate, or counterplate.

, ITI-IIEL S. RICHARDSON. Witnesses:

SAM. H. MANN, ELISHA FULLER. 

